What to Keep in Your Car in Case of an Emergency

You can encounter an emergency situation any time you get into your car and hit the road. Unfortunately, one of the risks that you face in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina is the risk of getting into an auto accident. This is true even if you are a highly safe driver. The reality is that you just can’t control the decisions and actions of others.

However, not all roadside emergencies involve crashes. Some examples of other situations that can – and often do – occur are:

Flat tires

Mechanical problems

Collisions with a deer or other animal

Bad weather conditions

Running out of gas on the highway.

Are you prepared for an emergency? If not, then you should consider stocking your car today with the following important items. As you will see, you can fully equip your car for just about any emergency for as little as $60. The list includes:

Water ($0). Toss a couple of bottles of water in your trunk. If you are ever stranded for an extended period of time, you will need to stay hydrated. You can buy new water bottles or refill old ones for free.

Snack or meal ($10). You can pick up civilian meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) for about $10 or less. These meals last a long time. If you get stuck in a snowstorm or ice storm and end up stranded for a long time, you will be glad that you have something to eat.

Blanket ($1). You don’t need a fancy quilt. You can simply get an old blanket from a surplus store or use an old blanket in your home. The key is to have something to keep you warm in case you are in shock from an injury or left on the side of the road in cold weather.

First aid kit ($5). A basic first aid kit may come in handy. The kit should include, at a minimum, some bandages, gauze, medical tape and a wound dressing.

Jumper cables ($10). You can pick up a decent set of cables for around $10. Make sure the cables are long enough to run from your car to another car. You should also check the instructions so that you know how to use the cables if the need ever arises.

Rags or towels ($2). You can probably get these items for free, too, if you look around the house. If you need to check your oil or inspect something else under the hood, you will be glad that you have a rag.

Small tool kit ($7). You will want a small kit with wire cutters, some pliers and a universal screwdriver. (We assume that you have a tire-changing kit in your car. If not, you will need to get one, too.)

Flashlight ($5). Sure, your phone has a light. Still, you will be better off with a small flashlight. Just don’t forget to keep fresh batteries inside of it.

Emergency flares ($10). Flares are a must if you need to pull over to the side of the road due to a flat tire or mechanical issue. However, check the expiration date on the flares and replace them. (They typically last about three years.)

Cell phone charger ($5). Having a small, portable battery charger for your cell phone can be a lifesaver. You can actually get a charger for just a couple bucks if you shop around.

Snow/ice scraper ($5). We have several months of cold weather in North Carolina. You will want a scraper to speed up the process of getting the ice or snow off your windows. A scraper may also be essential if you lack a defrost system in your car due to mechanical or battery issues.

Did We Miss Something?

Remember, this is just a short list of ideas. You may want to add other items. For instance, many people also choose to keep a $20 bill stuffed in the visor just in case they need cash for a taxi or to make a purchase in a place that does not take a credit or debit card. Others keep a pair of gloves in their car – hence the term, “glove compartment.”

The main thing is to make a list of items that will keep you safe if you are ever in a bad situation on the road. Additionally, you should always make sure that you have an up-to-date registration and insurance card in your vehicle.

Get Help from a Charlotte Car Accident Attorney

If you ever get hurt because of someone else’s careless or negligent conduct, contact the Charlotte car accident lawyers of Warren & Kallianos, PLLC. We will explain your rights and discuss how we can help you to pursue full and fair compensation for your injuries. Our consultations are always free.

Our Case Results

$4.5 million

Trucking Accident, Wrongful Death - Settlement for a client whose wife and unborn child died when their vehicle was hit head on by a dump truck that negligently crossed the centerline of the roadway.

Warren & Kallianos, PLLC

2018-09-27T20:49:39+00:00

Trucking Accident, Wrongful Death - Settlement for a client whose wife and unborn child died when their vehicle was hit head on by a dump truck that negligently crossed the centerline of the roadway.

https://www.warren-kallianos.com/testimonials/4-5-million/

$4 million

Settlement for client who sustained catastrophic burn injuries due to an arc flash explosion while working on an energized electrical panel at the defendant’s manufacturing facility in Charlotte, NC. Settlement also included waiver of the worker’s compensation lien on the settlement funds and continuation of benefits.

Warren & Kallianos, PLLC

2018-09-28T16:20:09+00:00

Settlement for client who sustained catastrophic burn injuries due to an arc flash explosion while working on an energized electrical panel at the defendant’s manufacturing facility in Charlotte, NC. Settlement also included waiver of the worker’s compensation lien on the settlement funds and continuation of benefits.

https://www.warren-kallianos.com/testimonials/4-million/

$2.5 Million

Settlement for client who sustained severe injuries, including a head injury and multiple orthopedic injuries, after being struck in a crosswalk by a drunk driver.

Warren & Kallianos, PLLC

2018-10-15T12:39:39+00:00

Settlement for client who sustained severe injuries, including a head injury and multiple orthopedic injuries, after being struck in a crosswalk by a drunk driver.

https://www.warren-kallianos.com/testimonials/2-5-million/

$3 Million

Settlement for client who sustained a gunshot injury to her spine in a robbery outside a business establishment in Charlotte. The business was sued for failing to provide adequate security for its customers.

Warren & Kallianos, PLLC

2018-10-15T12:38:50+00:00

Settlement for client who sustained a gunshot injury to her spine in a robbery outside a business establishment in Charlotte. The business was sued for failing to provide adequate security for its customers.

https://www.warren-kallianos.com/testimonials/3-million/

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Testimonials

He’s honest and dedicated to his clients

"Chris Kallianos was my lawyer for over a year after a bad car accident. He’s honest and dedicated to his clients, and I would recommend him to anyone that needs a lawyer in the future."

Client

Warren & Kallianos

2018-10-07T23:31:05+00:00

Client

"Chris Kallianos was my lawyer for over a year after a bad car accident. He’s honest and dedicated to his clients, and I would recommend him to anyone that needs a lawyer in the future."

I would definitely recommend them to any and every one!

"We were referred to Jeff Warren from another attorney and had a great experience with my son’s medical injury case/settlement, I have always been hesitant about personal injury lawsuit’s and attorneys but Jeff and his practice made the whole process easy and stress free from the beginning to the end. I would definitely recommend them to any and every one!!! We are very grateful to Jeff and his staff for all their patience and knowledge."

Client

Warren & Kallianos

5.0

2018-10-07T23:22:13+00:00

Client

"We were referred to Jeff Warren from another attorney and had a great experience with my son’s medical injury case/settlement, I have always been hesitant about personal injury lawsuit’s and attorneys but Jeff and his practice made the whole process easy and stress free from the beginning to the end. I would definitely recommend them to any and every one!!! We are very grateful to Jeff and his staff for all their patience and knowledge."

I recommend them to everyone.

"Great people to help me with my case, Great Lawyer and Paralegals. they always answered the phone, always had a response for my question. I recommend them to everyone. they also have someone that speaks Spanish (for my parents) I am thankful for everything and time that they give me. thank you so much, God bless."

Client

Warren & Kallianos

5.0

2018-10-07T23:27:01+00:00

Client

"Great people to help me with my case, Great Lawyer and Paralegals. they always answered the phone, always had a response for my question. I recommend them to everyone. they also have someone that speaks Spanish (for my parents) I am thankful for everything and time that they give me. thank you so much, God bless."

Committed Personal Injury Attorneys

"Having worked with both Chris and Jeff, as well as their office staff, I can say with confidence that they are the most sincere, committed personal injury attorneys I have ever met. They are passionate about making sure their clients get a fair settlement, and are sympathetic to the disruption and even trauma that the whole process can create. It helps that they are a small team, and everyone knows the clients and their situations."

Client

Warren & Kallianos

5.0

2018-09-28T23:52:45+00:00

Client

"Having worked with both Chris and Jeff, as well as their office staff, I can say with confidence that they are the most sincere, committed personal injury attorneys I have ever met. They are passionate about making sure their clients get a fair settlement, and are sympathetic to the disruption and even trauma that the whole process can create. It helps that they are a small team, and everyone knows the clients and their situations."

I would highly recommend Mr. Kallianos and his staff

"Chris Kallianos has been such a blessing to our family during this trying time! He has done an excellent job in making sure we are informed of what is going on with our case. I would highly recommend Mr. Kallianos and his staff if you have a personal injury you are dealing with. We truly appreciate all of your hard work! Best lawyer around!"

Client

Warren & Kallianos

5.0

2018-10-07T23:25:16+00:00

Client

"Chris Kallianos has been such a blessing to our family during this trying time! He has done an excellent job in making sure we are informed of what is going on with our case. I would highly recommend Mr. Kallianos and his staff if you have a personal injury you are dealing with. We truly appreciate all of your hard work! Best lawyer around!"

Not sure how we would have managed without this Law Firm

"Not sure how we would have managed without this Law Firm. They have been extremely compassionate about my husbands injury causing disability – which has been a life changing event for our family. They are always available to talk with us no matter when we call. They have kept us up to date regarding the case, which has kept us from worrying. I would recommend this Law Firm to anyone who needs legal help."

Client

Warren & Kallianos

5.0

2018-10-07T23:29:03+00:00

Client

"Not sure how we would have managed without this Law Firm. They have been extremely compassionate about my husbands injury causing disability – which has been a life changing event for our family. They are always available to talk with us no matter when we call. They have kept us up to date regarding the case, which has kept us from worrying. I would recommend this Law Firm to anyone who needs legal help."

The verdicts and settlements set forth above were obtained by our law firm from 1992 to the present. In most cases, liability and/or damages were contested, the adverse parties were represented by counsel, and the matters involved complex factual and/or legal issues. All verdicts obtained were collected. These cases are illustrative of the matters handled by our firm, and not all case results are provided. The case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Please note that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.